Bitter Ale

Britain's Iconic Brew

If one were asked to name the definitive American craft beer style, they would pick pale ale. Ask a Brit the same question, and their retort would be bitter, dispensed from a cask. They are staples among those who prefer a pint of something that is neither overwhelming nor boring. English bitters are clearly the choice in that genial and romantic ritual of a pint at the pub. Pale ale and bitters are closely entwined, now and historically, and for some 200 years or more in Britain, were essentially one and the same. Today they are often distinguished solely by method of dispense. There is something about bitters’ affable profile; bright ale perfectly suited to lively conversation, unencumbered by abrasive edges, yet bold, expressive and flavorful enough to draw us to the draught. Hops up front with enough malty backbone and yeast character to offer some personality is what defines a great bitter. Add to that the freshest and most natural offering from a well-kept cask, and you will experience a pint of perfection.

Brewers have only been using hops for about 1,000 years, and in Britain, since the 16th century. London water was not particularly suited to hoppy beers anyhow, but darker, sweetish ales instead. Within a few decades though, hopped beers made converts of English brewers. Nearby Kent became England’s premier hop growing region within short order. How, then, are hops germane to the lineage of bitters? The name denotes a reliance on hops, but that is more an issue of comparison, as bitter and pale ale evolved as an alternative to the under-hopped status quo. Even so, it would be nearly 300 years before bitter would become the hands-down favorite among the Brits, a result of modern grassroots pugnacity spun from a longing for traditional ale.

Pale beers were not even possible until coke was invented in 1669. Until then, wood and straw were primarily used to dry green malt, but they were excessively smoky. Coke, coal without its noxious compounds, was cleaner and easily tempered. Quite expensive, coke-fired pale malt was reserved for the affluent tipple, and used mostly for well-hopped stock beers, left to age for a year or more. These stock beers were sent to servants and military in India, the most-savvy exporter being George Hodgson of London. By the early 19th century competing brewers of Burton upon Trent in The Midlands were getting busy making similar pale ales. Burton water was rich in calcium sulfate, and its effect on hoppy pale ales was astonishing. It gave a clean, fully hopped character, a light and clear complexion, and served as yeast nutrient, ensuring swift, full attenuation. This broadened the sensory gulf between brown and pale ale, and made those of Burton superior to those of greater London. Competition flourished, commercial railways were built and the brewing efficiency of pale malt was shown to be cost-effective, adding more to its growing popularity. Brits though, still overwhelmingly preferred the mass-produced, financially connected and publican-dominated dark brew, porter. Slowly however, pale beers gained ground on porter, a trend that would continue for another 150 years.

The term “bitter ale” was created to distinguish them from lightly hopped mild ales, which were served relatively young, and the only alternative to porter and stout in the mid-19th century. Bitter ale helped introduce the “aromatizing” of beer as portion of hops were added late in the boil, something unknown to porter and stout. This attention to aromatic qualities may have inadvertently encouraged the hop farmers of England to concentrate even more on this aspect of their blossoming industry. Brewers soon began making variations of bitters, usually as a function of strength. India pale ale was the strongest, and kept for a long period of time prior to serving, while bitter ale was lighter, and served much less aged. By the end of the 19th century many brewers were making assorted bitters and mild, with IPA fading away. Even porter, the elephant in the room for over a century, had given way to mild, by now the most popular pub ale.

Throughout the 20th century, the state of ale changed dramatically, due to World War, changing taste and the heavy hand of corporate control. Rationing during wartime made gravities plummet, but this had the side benefit of brewers learning to make low gravity, but flavorful, ales. The remnant of this is “session” ale, defined as ale of up to 4 percent ABV. A staple among pub denizens, session ale is perfectly suited to ordinary bitter and mild on cask, a true expression of the brewing art. Bitters replaced mild as the most popular ale among the Brits only after World War II, and remains so today. The 1950s and ’60s though, saw a movement away from traditional real ale and towards mass-produced, bland, lifeless products. Plenty of folks were fed up with this trend, their grievances addressed and given life by the formation of CAMRA, the Campaign For Real Ale, in 1971.

CAMRA is a potent consumer group initially formed to restore the British tradition of providing “real ale” to consumers rather than the fizzy and flavorless renditions that were overwhelming the market. Real ale is defined as a natural, live product produced from traditional ingredients and left to mature in the cask (or bottle) via secondary fermentation. It is served from that container after brief conditioning at cool cellar temperatures, bright as a result of settling, with or without finings. It should have a gentle carbonation from priming and secondary fermentation. Dry hopping in the cask may be employed to enhance aroma. They are best served via hand pump or gravity, allowing a bit of air to bathe the ale as it is served, a condition that helps it breathe and enhance the subtleties of the product. While nearly any type of top-fermenting beer is served on cask as real ale, bitter is far and away the most popular. This should come as no surprise since English hops, malt and yeast are quite distinctive in their own right; reverence through simplicity. Each ingredient puts its stamp on a well-crafted bitter; chewy pale malt, floral, citrus, peppery hops and mild fruity, estery yeast are essentially all that is required to sculpt one. The bottled version of bitter may be known as pale ale, but just to thumb the nose at classification, there are plenty of cask pale ales and even bottled bitters.

In short, bitters as a style came into their own as a type of pale ale that could be served while quite young on cask as pubs moved away from aged, vatted ale and towards fresh “running” ales. They differed from mild, another running beer, by the higher hop rates. Often they used crystal malt and were dry-hopped. Much of this describes the modern versions. It is impossible to really classify them by anything other than their strength, and even this floats, since regional, or even neighboring, interpretations often vary significantly. Ordinary bitter runs between 3.4 and 3.9 percent ABV and are the quintessential session ale. Best bitter is the next strongest at 4 percent and higher, with extra or special bitter about 5 percent or more. Classification is largely considered frivolous by many, but like any other style or substyle, it gives the consumer a clue as to what to expect, something substantial or mellow. Beyond that, the classifications blend together. Bitters vary from golden to bronze, from moderate to aggressive levels of hops, and with varying degrees of late hop additions, with some being malty, others full-bodied and still others quite dry. House yeast adds its own accent and flair to the style, and British yeast is known to lend a fair amount of character on its own, not to mention its effect on attenuation. North American microbrewers make their own interpretations, and usually distinguish them from pale ales by deepening the color, adding some mouthfeel, and tempering the aromatic hop character. Some are spot on the English version, while others have an intentional American slant.

There is but one way to truly experience the charm of bitter, and that would be a prolonged, nationwide pub crawl of historic England. Until then, seek the bottles, cans and drafts that bill themselves as bitter or English pale ale, and plan that trip.

Fuller's ESB

ABV: 5.9Tasting Notes: The original extra special bitter, Fullers is also among the most famous. Now known as Fuller, Smith and Turner, the brewing site was The Griffin Brewery from 1654 to 1845. The ESB is full, bright bronze, the nose a blend of earthy hops, minerals, sweetish malt and a hint of whiskey. Medium in body, the flavor is dominated by light caramel and honey-sweet malt, hops in the background and notes of vanilla. Finishing gently, Fullers ESB is well balanced and deceptively mellow for an ale of 5.9 percent ABV. Extra special indeed.

Coniston Bluebird Bitter

ABV: 4.2Tasting Notes: Brewed in the Northwest England Lake District, Bluebird is a former Great British Beer Festival Champion. Copper-tinted gold, it offers an herbal, citrus nose from Challenger hops and soft, fresh bready malt. Made with premium Maris Otter and a touch of crystal malt, the mouthfeel is creamy, the flavor has luscious malt and a bit of perky orange, with a dry, biscuit edge. The bottle conditioning adds texture, and makes this real ale in a bottle with a natural, soft carbonation. The finish is brisk, hoppy, and dry. Superbly plain and folksy.

Hook Norton Hooky Bitter

ABV: 3.6Tasting Notes: Hooky Bitter comes from the Oxfordshire countryside, and at 3.6 percent ABV, Hooky demonstrates that flavor does not require strength. It pours pale amber and slightly hazy, the soft carbonation builds a small but lingering head. The aroma has citrus (orange) and floral hops and toasty caramel malt, with esters of stone fruit, notably apricot and peach. The palate is creamy and full, aided by wheat, the flavor rich, malty and satisfying. Hooky is ever so slightly balanced towards the hop, and finishes with a firm bitterness. This is a pleasantly natural, round and rustic session bitter, ale as it should be. Consider me hooked.

Surly Bitter Brewer

ABV: 4.1Tasting Notes: Surly Brewing Company hails from Brooklyn Center, MN, and has been turning heads since they opened just a few short years ago. Bitter Brewer, at 4.1 percent ABV, is easy drinking, but compact and flavorful. Pale orange, it offers a complex aroma of citrus zest and pine, owing to the choice of glacier hops. The mouthfeel is medium but silky, no doubt a product of English Optic malt and oats. There is bready maltiness and lots of hops up front in the flavor, with the latter winning the battle. Fairly dry in the end, with loads of bitterness and some light sugary sweetness. If you like easy, American-accented bitters then this has your name written all over it, surly or not.

K. Florian KlempK. Florian Klemp is an award-winning homebrewer and general hobbyist who thinks there is no more sublime marriage than that of art and science.

Old Hooky! My wife and I drank that in The White Horse, next to the Blackwell’s bookstore in Oxford. Decade ago. The only time we had Old Hooky (not available in Canada, and certainly not fresh from the cask!). My (our) very best best bitter!

Wetherspoon is probably the most established pub brand and eaterie in the U.K. Ale being at the forefront of the their business. You can go to any wWetheespoons pub and find anything from 6-20 different ales on at once, kept to perfect clarity, aroma and taste. Many are local brewers and many are nationally recognised!any wetherspoons pubs are relnowned for their cheap prices bringing in a stream of young rash individuals but when you way it up the beer far outweighs their bad reputation. Give it a go!!!